In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most common questions people are still asking is what they should do to avoid catching the virus.
Yes, the vaccines are rolling out as planned.
But is that it?
Mask wearing is still a mainstay; at least for now… though mask mandates do seem to be letting up in some places.
Social distancing is also being relaxed in some select areas.
But what about handwashing?
Is washing your hands still a recommended step in preventing the spread of the virus?
Does it even help when it comes to Covid?
In this post, we’re going to dig into this question and get a solid answer.
Here’s what you need to know.
‘Wash Your Hands’ Is Typical Doctor Advice. But Does It Matter For Covid?
The most common ways of getting sick are through food, water, and touching contaminated surfaces.
Covid-19, however, is primarily transmitted from person-to-person via respiratory droplets.
These droplets are released when people talk, sneeze, or cough.
And while they can be inhaled, they can also land on surfaces.
In the event that you do have to touch a surface that’s contaminated with the virus, washing your hands can help prevent illness.
With that being said, however, there’s also something to be said for not going overboard.
Technically speaking, there may not be a need to wash your hands after every single activity. If you did that, well, you may never do anything but wash your hands all day.
And obviously, that wouldn’t be pragmatic.
In fact, washing your hands more than necessary can actually lead to drying them out and increase the risk for developing skin irritations or dermatitis.
So, where’s the middle line?
What do doctors recommend for hand-washing when it comes to Covid?
Well, washing hands is still incredibly important to preventing the spread of not only Covid-19, but also other illnesses, viruses, and bacteria.
And when it comes to your personal space, according to a recent CNN article interview, executive medical director of infection prevention and control for the University of Chicago Medicine Dr. Emily Landon seems to believe that a common sense approach works best.
“Set up some ground rules for yourself,” said Landon during the interview. “If you show up at my house, the first thing I say is, ‘Hey, take your shoes off, and would you mind washing your hands?’”
Dr. Emily Landon went on to talk a bit more about hand-washing rules in her home.
“Our house rules are; we wash our hands before we eat, we wash our hands after going to the bathroom, and we wash our hands when we come inside from an activity, such as going into work or returning home.”
How To Properly Wash Your Hands
As it turns out, washing hands at home is pretty simple.
Scrub with a lather for a full 20 seconds, including inside the fingers, over the fingertips themselves, and on the backs of the hands.
And of course, if you don’t have access to soap and water, hand sanitizer is the next best thing.
In Conclusion
Handwashing is important for preventing the spread of covid.
As a general rule, make sure to keep washing your hands!
This should be done when you get home from work or school, after using the bathroom, and before eating anything.
Washing your hands regularly to avoid potential contamination is a great step to take in protecting yourself from the virus.
You may also want to consider carrying some hand sanitizer around in case soap isn’t available.
You never know when an emergency will happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
